The Start of Summer!

Nothing says summer like Phlox, Petunia and Bee Balm. There are also a few Cleome (white and pink) on the right. Sorry for the ultra bright image and glowing flowers. I'm still trying to figure out my camera..

This cultivar of Phlox is marketed with several names. I've seen it called Spinner Phlox, Peppermint Twist Phlox, Candy Stripe Phlox, and possibly confused with Phlox maculata Natasia. Whatever its called, it's beautiful in the afternoon sun and the pollinators love it. 

Large Jacob Cline Bee Balm is a must have for the summer garden. Its the tallest of the bee balm varieties. We've had it reach six feet. Generally you can let it grow wild but it you have heavy, monsoon rains, its best to cut it in half around the middle of May to prevent it from growing to tall and flopping over. It will recover nicely and bloom as expected from late June through August.

Zen and the art of Sedum Sarmentosum. This is also sold as Graveyard Moss, Stringy Stonecrop or Golden Star Sedum. This sedum grows very fast when happy. It can thrive in sun or shade and chokes out  weeds very well. Its roots are very shallow so its easy to control if it gets out of hand.

A bed of Oenothera fruticosa Youngii or Sun Drops Primrose starting to bloom. I didn't catch a good image of this bed before they stopped blooming. Normally they are covered in yellow flowers. I'll try to do better next year.

This is Spiraea japonica Gold Mound in full bloom. Spirea do best in full sun but this one gets about 6 hours. Chartreuse foliage and pink flowers. This one stands out in a crowd.

This Spiraea x bumalda 'Anthony Waterer' actually performed quite well this season even though it only gets a few hours of afternoon sun.

This rosa Virginiana. Its a native wild rose in the Mid-Atlantic region of the USA. Its hips and petals are edible so if you get lost in the woods you can get a dose of vitamin C!

Rosa Flower Carpet Amber is a shrub rose that blooms heavily and then goes dormant. Its not as large as Knockout but requires full sun to really perform. 

Pink Astilbe plumes in the morning sun. 

You gotta love the rich color of this Clematis President bloom. Unfortunately this one died immediately after blooming. My guess is a vole found it.

The oddly wonderful Grace Smoke tree flower.

The Acanthus spinosus finally bloomed this year. It has been in the ground for three years.